Today's News

The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Why do kids believe a chubby guy in a flying sleigh can deliver joy across America? Because their parents do. A whopping 84 percent of grown-ups were once children who trusted in Santa’s magic, and lots cling to it still.
Things are changing fast these days, with toddlers wishing for iPads, grade schoolers emailing their Christmas lists and moms wrestling over bargain toys at midnight sales. Despite all the pressures on the rituals of the season, an AP-GfK poll confirms that families are sticking by old St. Nick.

Submit your calendar items and notices to mlopez@lasvegasoptic.com
• The Las Vegas Police Department is requesting assistance from business owners to update the department’s emergency contacts. They are requesting all local businesses to fill out an afterhours contact form to better serve the community. Forms are available at the station and on the city’s website.
• Grief Support Group meeting from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays at the Presbyterian Church. For more information, call Rosemary Pierson at 425-9299 or 425-7763.

From time to time, someone takes offense to the use of the salutation “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” and we think that’s unfortunate. In an attempt to be more inclusive in a world of many faiths and cultural practices, some people simply opt to use the holiday phrase. We know of no one who’s trying to exclude the Christian season from the many other celebrations during this festive and faith-filled time of year.

A lot of you can relate to the fact that I come from a large family. My dear ol’ ma (I use “ma” to honor my hillbilly roots) gave birth to five boys in eight years, and a sixth popped out eight years after that. Then my parents “adopted” a seventh son who happened to come home with one of my brothers over a holiday break and “adopted” us.

By Stephen Hawkins
AP Sports Writer
WACO, Texas — Robert Griffin III played football for years simply because he was good at it.
Then Baylor’s exciting dual-threat quarterback tore the ACL in his right knee and missed the last nine games of the 2009 season. While stuck on the sideline watching, he realized just how much he loved the game.

When they take the hardwood floor of the Wilson Complex on Wednesday, the Robertson Cardinals begin their quest for a third consecutive trip to the Stu Clark Tournament championship game. And head coach David Bustos and his club will be seeking their second Stu Clark trophy in that three-year span.

Despite vehement opposition from one governing board member, a divided City Council voted Wednesday to grant one-year contracts to the city’s department directors.

Mayor Alfonso Ortiz cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the contracts after Councilors Tonita Gurule-Giron and David Romero voted against the measure and Councilors Andrew Feldman and Diane Moore voted in favor.